Gladys Marr Obituary

Gladys Sylvia (Roberts) Marr, 88, of Ipswich and formerly of Gloucester, passed away peacefully on April 18 at Ledgewood Rehab and Nursing Center, Beverly with her daughter, Sylvia, by her side. She remained cheerful, upbeat and always smiling even through a long battle with Alzheimer's. Gladys was born in Gloucester on June 11, 1934 to the late Homer E. and Eunice L. (Morris) Roberts. Gladys grew up and attended school in Gloucester before marrying her first husband, Howard L. Lane, Sr. They had four children together before a boating tragedy took his life in 1958. She later married George S. Whipple with whom she had two more children. Gladys loved taking her children on camping trips to the White Mountains, NH. , which remained a favorite destination throughout her life. Later, she enjoyed trips to Florida, where she lived briefly, Atlantic City, Los Vegas, Niagara Falls, Nova Scotia, Aruba and Ireland, as well as other places. Her third husband, Thomas R. Marr, enjoyed many of these travels by her side. Gladys and Thomas were married almost thirty years before his passing in 2003. Despite her many adventures on trips, her favorite place was at the racetracks, watching her sons compete in hobby stocks, pro stocks, and super modifieds. In later years, she cheered on her grandsons in their racecars and her great granddaughters in hot wheels at Star Speedway. She would be the first to get to victory lane when one of them won a race. She had a camping trailer at Star Speedway where she spent many nights after races sitting at the campfire making family memories. In her spare time, Gladys cheered on her grandchildren at their football, baseball, softball games and dance recitals. She loved everyone and made new friends everywhere she went. Gladys's proudest achievement was raising her children and watching them create families of their own. She maintained close relationships with them throughout her life. Gladys was a beloved Mother and Grandmother and will be sadly missed by her family. Gladys is survived by her six children, Howard L. Lane Jr. (Debra), Kathy E. Manzo, Michael T. Lane, Daniel A. Lane (Mary Fay), Sylvia L. Newman (Alan), Leslie S. Whipple (Rhonda); her stepchildren, Thomas R. Marr Jr. , Ronda Marr and Brenda Marr; twenty four grandchildren; thirty four great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; sister in laws, Carol Roberts and Raymah Roberts and many nieces and nephews. Gladys was predeceased by her husbands, Howard L. Lane Sr. , George S. Whipple, and Thomas R. Marr; her sister, Nancy A. Courage; her brothers, Norman E. Roberts and Charles H. Roberts; her daughter in law, Aldana R. Lane; her infant grandson, James H. Manzo and her beloved dog Coco. Her graveside funeral service will be at New Highland Cemetery, Ipswich, on Friday, April 28, at 11:00am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Following the burial, there will be a gathering at the VFW, 110 County Rd. , #92, Ipswich. Contributions may be made in Gladys's memory to Cape Ann Aid, www. capeannanimalaid. org . Arrangements by Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St. , Beverly. Information, directions, condolences at www. campbellfuneral. com.